Why can some fish-eating cone snails be dangerous to humans?

Cone snails, which belong to the class Gastropoda, are dangerous to humans because they possess specialized venom designed to paralyze prey, which can be fatal to humans when introduced into the body.12

These snails deliver their toxin through a dart-like mechanism. The venom is a complex mixture of proteins and enzymes, primarily acting as a neurotoxin that interferes with the victim's nervous system. By binding to specific cell surface receptors and ion channels, the toxin can cause severe physiological effects, including muscle paralysis and the potential arrest of respiration and heartbeat. While most cone snails typically prey on worms or other mollusks, the larger species that hunt fish are particularly noted for their ability to inflict lethal stings on humans.12